A directory of export services

Business America, May 7, 1990

Travel development activities in countries without direct USTTA representation are carried out under the direction of USTTA regional directors, who cooperate with "Visit USA" committees, comprised of representatives of the U.S. and foreign travel industry in those countries, and also with the Commerce Department's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

Foreign Requirements for U.S. Products and Services

For information about foreign standards and certification systems, write: NCSCI, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Administration Building, A629, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899. The telephone number is (301) 975-4040, 975-4038, or 975-4036.

NIST maintains a GATT Hotline with a recording that reports on the latest notifications of proposed foreign regulations that may affect trade. Hotline number: (301) 975-4041.

Minority Business Development

Minority-owned businesses can receive special assistance from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Contact: Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone (202) 377-2414.

Foreign Metric Regulations

The Office of Metric Programs provides exporters with guidance and assistance on foreign metric import regulations and on matters relating to U.S. transition to the metric system; it can give referrals to state metric contacts. The office's telephone number: (202) 377-3036.

Fishery Product Exports

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) assists seafood exporters by facilitating access to foreign markets. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provides inspection services for fishery exports and issues official U.S. Government certification attesting to the findings.

Contact: Office of Trade and Industry Services National Marine Fisheries Service Room 6490 1335 East-West Highway Silver Spring, Md. 20910 Telephone: Trade Matters (301) 427-2379 or 2383 Export Inspection (301) 427-2355 Fisheries Promotion (301) 427-2379

Census Bureau

Shipper's Export Declarations--tel. (301) 763-5310. Trade Data--(301) 763-5140

Other Federal Export Assistance

U.S. Export-Import Bank

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Eximbank) is the principal government agency responsible for aiding the export of U.S. goods and services through a variety of loan, guarantee, and insurance programs.

Eximbank's financial programs generally are available to any U.S. export firm, regardless of size. The following programs, however, are particularly helpful to small business exporters.

Export Credit Insurance. An exporter may reduce its financing risks by purchasing export credit insurance from Eximbank's agent, the Foreign Credit Insurance Association (FCIA). Policies available include insurance for financing or operating leases, mediumterm insurance, the new-to-export policy, insurance for the service industry, the umbrella policy, and multibuyer and singlebuyer policies.

Working Capital Guarantee. The Working Capital Loan Guarantee Program assists small businesses in obtaining crucial working capital to fund their export sales. The program guarantees working capital loans extended by banks to eligible U.S. exporters with exportable inventory or export receivables as collateral.